Inside media.

No hardball being played on coaches' TV shows

March 08, 2005|By Teddy Greenstein.

Perhaps it's reassuring to know that our country's best spinmasters do not work in the nation's capital. They work on coaches' television shows.

Jack Nolan, who hosts "Inside Notre Dame Basketball," began a recent show by telling coach Mike Brey: "We've got to be perfectly honest. Your team didn't shoot real well at the beginning of the Providence game."

The Irish started 0-for-11.

Or sample coach Gene Keady's analysis of Purdue's 20-loss season.

"We haven't underachieved," he said. "We overscheduled."

Keady followed that line with a satisfied grin, perhaps recognizing that after 25 years at Purdue, he'll no longer have to look into a TV camera and put a happy face on an agonizing defeat.

Most coaches' shows follow a formula--chit-chat with the host, highlights from the week, fluffy feature on a player, trivia question taken straight from the media guide and an earnest "thanks for watching ... we'll see you next week."

But not every show is so meat-and-potatoes.

Illinois' show features a "Grilling with Weber" segment in which head coach Bruce Weber recently squashed the debate over how he prefers his St. Louis-style ribs--with a sauce or dry rub.

"I like sauce on it," he said. "There's no doubt."

St. Joseph's coach Phil Martelli hosts "The Tonight Show" of coaches' shows. His guests have included the governor of Pennsylvania and an assistant general manager for the Phillies. He dons a turban for his Carson-esque segment called "Martelli the Magnificent."

Most impressive, though, is that Martelli can keep a straight face while the St. Joe's mascot, The Hawk, flaps its wings non-stop directly behind him.

Mike Krzyzewski faces no similar obstacles during "Inside Duke Basketball," although host Bob Harris does blow smoke in the coach's direction.

Harris: "I think you have probably the longest break between games since the holiday break. What are you going to do?"

Coach K: "Tell me what we should do."

Harris: "Hey, you're the genius in this crowd."

Coach K: "Then we're in a lot of trouble."

Penn State's weekly offering has a surprisingly strong production value, a mix of music and split-screen replays that would appeal to a teenager. Maybe that's because the show is targeting recruits. Shamelessly, I might add.

Forward Travis Parker tells the camera: "I love playing at Penn State because I have a lot of supporters. I was looking at UNC-Wilmington, East Tennessee, Virginia Tech and South Florida. I chose to come here ... because of the people. And I knew I could get a good education, play in a top conference, live my dreams."

With that, the words: LIVE YOUR DREAMS appeared on the screen, a subliminal message to all those young ballplayers who dream of becoming the next Aaron Johnson.

To be fair, not every program is loaded with propaganda.

During "Iowa Basketball with Steve Alford," host Gary Dolphin told the coach: "Steve, your NCAA postseason hopes are pretty much down the drain with the exception of winning the Big Ten tournament ..."

Alford couldn't disagree.

Keady, meanwhile, was asked for his warm and fuzzy feelings on Purdue's decision to stamp a "KEADY'S COURT" logo on Purdue's home floor.

"That sort of surprised me," the coach replied. "I figured when I was gone, they'd take my name off the court. Name it after somebody who's gonna give them some money.

"That's in jest. I don't really mean that."

No, Keady wouldn't want to offend.

Whistle-blowing

Days after the Big Ten criticized ESPN analyst Doug Gottlieb for pointing to a potential conflict of interest involving an official, the network will examine the issue at 11 p.m. Tuesday on "Outside the Lines."

Gottlieb last week questioned why Rick Hartzell, the athletic director at Northern Iowa, was assigned to officiate a game between Indiana and Wisconsin. Both Indiana and Northern Iowa are "bubble" teams for the NCAA tournament, and Hartzell's non-call late in the game contributed to Wisconsin's two-point victory.

"I'm not saying there is a clear-cut conflict of interest, but there is at least that appearance," Gottlieb said, according to a transcript.

The Big Ten released a statement Friday to express its "extreme disappointment and concern" over the comments.

ESPN on Monday responded with a statement: "Doug's job is to offer opinions on college basketball issues. In this case, he raised a thought-provoking topic and we stand by him. . . . He was not drawing conclusions nor was he questioning Hartzell's integrity, as some have maintained."

Hartzell, who officiates about 100 games and has worked 17 NCAA tournaments, told CBS Sportsline.com he understands the conflict-of-interest concerns but "I just try to get calls right. Honest to God, it's that simple."

Hartzell also praised Gottlieb for calling him to apologize.

"I think he wishes it didn't come out like it did," Hartzell told the Des Moines Register. "I think it takes a pretty stand-up guy to call you."